Longtime Clarkston resident, Mary Judith “Judi” Jeffreys, 79, surrounded by family, peacefully entered her heavenly home on Sunday, July 21, 2024, following a short battle with cancer. Judi was born to Joseph and Frances Nowoj, in Chicago, on May 27, 1945.
She was six years younger than her brother Bill, who made her sit in a different part of the theater at the movies when he was a teen, but after he got back from the Navy, they became the best of friends for the rest of their lives. Judi passed away on the same day, July 21, as Bill had passed 24 years earlier.
The family moved to Walla Walla, in 1947, where she attended St Patrick’s school. They moved again to Clarkston, in 1954, where she attended Holy Family Catholic School and Clarkston High School, where she graduated in 1963.
Growing up, Judi would often be looking over the fender watching her dad work on the truck, playing with the family dog or other animals, riding her bike for miles to have lunch under some trees out on Evans Road, or driving the family boat up the Snake River before the dams were put in. She loved Westerns, and whenever her parents would give her a doll, her dad would come home from work to find the doll hanging in the tree for cattle rustling or some other wild-west offense. She was the sheriff, and the rest of her dolls were lined up as the posse since they all had already been hanged themselves when they were new.
Judi married Vern Jeffreys on June 15, 1963, and they had three children together, Dan, Chad and Kyle. Judi and Vern later divorced.
Judi loved slowpitch softball and played for many years. She was an excellent pitcher and was nicknamed “Cheetah” because she was a fast runner. She eventually become the first woman umpire in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. Judi worked for Valley Bank early on, then spent the bulk of her working years with the Department of Social and Health Services, helping families and the elderly meet financial needs.
Judi loved being with family and was constantly at every game, recital, birthday, or holiday gathering to be with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved her time with Bill and Janice at their home, or on the Oregon coast, and spent much of her time in Clarkston with her close friend Bonnie Smith. Depoe Bay, Ore., and her condo in Hope, Idaho, became her favorite places on earth. She shared in many adventures with special friends, such as Poncho and Jeannene, Kathy, Jan and Pat, and family such as Pat and Wayne. Whether it was the ocean, Lake Pend Oreille, or the Snake River, Judi loved the water.
Judi is survived by her sons, Dan (Susan), Chad (Wendy) and Kyle (Deena); her 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Judi was preceded in death by her mom and dad, brother Bill, grandson Cody, and dear friends Bonnie Smith, Jan Klatt, Pat Francis and Kathy Taylor.
Our family would like to give a special thank you to Life Care Center for giving Mom such exceptional care in her final days.
A celebration of Judi’s life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Clarkston First Church of God, 910 Sycamore St., Clarkston. Please sign the online guestbook at malcomsfuneralhome.com.
